WASHINGTON – A Republican House committee is seeking documents from over 200 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have received billions in taxpayer funds for supporting U.S. immigrants during President Joe Biden’s administration.
Among these organizations is one linked to protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles.
Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Mark Green (R-Tenn.), along with subcommittee Chairman Josh Breechen (R-Okla.), sent letters to 215 NGOs on Tuesday, criticizing them for contributing to what they termed “the worst border crisis in our country’s history.”
The GOP leaders expressed concern that these NGOs are creating a “pull factor” by providing transportation, translation, housing, and other services funded by taxpayers, primarily for migrants who cross the border illegally and are later released into the country.
“We’re worried that these taxpayer-supported NGOs will profit from the ongoing border crisis driven by the Biden administration and might continue to do so under future Democratic leadership,” Greene and Breechen wrote, pointing out a significant lack of accountability regarding how the funds were allocated.
They also highlighted their investigation into whether the funding has fostered “trafficking and smuggling” operations and whether NGOs are currently advising individuals on how to evade law enforcement.
One of these NGOs, the Coalition of Humanitarian Immigration Rights (Chirla), reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approved close to $1 million for services related to citizenship guidance and naturalization applications, funding that was terminated by the Trump administration in March.
Chirla organized a rally condemning ICE’s actions against undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles, which escalated into major protests resulting in confrontations with federal law enforcement.
In a previous statement, a Chirla official insisted that the organization did not take part in the protests, aside from holding press conferences and rallies. They did not provide a response to a request for comment on Tuesday about the investigation.
DHS officials mentioned that the city’s ICE crackdown primarily targeted serious offenders like convicted sexual abusers and drug dealers.
Another focus of Green’s committee, Southwest Key, is a major housing nonprofit for unaccompanied immigrant children, receiving approximately $3 billion in taxpayer funding from Biden’s Health and Human Services. Between 2021 and 2023, the salaries of its top executives rose significantly, from around $420,000 to $720,000 on average.
A civil lawsuit was filed against Southwest by the Justice Department in July 2024, alleging severe sexual abuse incidents involving staff and children from 2015 to 2023, though it was withdrawn in March 2025 when former President Trump’s administration halted the organization’s federal funding.
Southwest Key has strongly denied these allegations regarding child abuse and also did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
Of the 550,000 immigrant children who entered the U.S. from February 2021 to January 2025, at least 291,000 have been released to sponsors, some flagged for serious offenses like sexual abuse and gang ties.
Data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicates that, on average, about 2.4 million immigrants entered the U.S. each year between 2021 and 2024, with around 60% crossing the border unlawfully.
The DHS, along with entities like ICE and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been directed to coordinate efforts with NGOs that offer essential services like food, shelter, and transport.
In a March 2023 audit, the DHS Inspector General revealed that “more than half” of FEMA funds allocated to NGOs were spent without proper documentation.
Previous claims from GOP leaders stated that $81 million in “illegal” funds had gone to cover immigrant housing expenses at luxury hotels in New York City.
Conservative groups have suggested that the influx of immigrants has cost New York City residents around $10 billion, contributing significantly to U.S. taxpayers’ overall expenses in 2023, estimated around $150 billion.
Greene has accused former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of misleading Congress by stating the border was “safe.”
The Republicans are now demanding information about all federal grants, contracts, and payments given to NGOs from January 19, 2021, through January 20, 2025. They are also asking if these organizations have sued the federal government and whether they continue providing services to immigrants.
Prominent left-leaning organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, are among those being requested to answer queries related to the situation.
